Capo on bass?

[bassburner]

I have done it for when I've been in D-standard and have one song (Longview) that has to be Eb-standard due to open strings and it worked flawlessly. Of course, then we immediately added a song that needs the Drop-D for the same reason so I've switched back to E-standard and use Drop-D for everything that needs the low D and just use a Pitchfork for that one Eb song. It sounds a little synthy-ish but it kind of gets me closer to Dirnt's sound anyway since my tone isn't anywhere near his (by choice).

 

[nickpc]

I did it once, with a bass I tuned down a half step, so that Capo 1 was then standard tuning. Muscle memory, musical ability and theory all collided in a bad way, there were casualties, a major lawsuit/settlement (which I'm still not at liberty to discuss), and an agreement I'd never try that again.

No problem with using a capo on bass, just a problem with me functioning with a capo on bass.

 

[logdrum]

I do. Half- capo actuality - when I am doing drone stuff if retuning the drone string means too much tension

 

[Gizmot]

NO! I've always viewed capos as a "cheater" for people who can't play songs in keys that don't have a lot of open string notes.

I'm sure there are legitimate uses for it, but I can play any note in any key without the help.

 

[bigjames]

Here’s a pic of some random English guy who added a capo to his bass. He did it way back in ‘66 though.

View attachment 5279485

I wonder what happened to him....

 

[Medicine Man]

I find them exceptionally useful on guitar, especially in 2 guitar bands as a way to get easy chord voicings different from the other guitar. Bass, never.

 

[monsterthompson]

I follow Mike Doughty on IG and he occasionally posts videos where he has a capo on a his bass. Not that he's a tremendously influential bassist, but he's a good songwriter using a tool to create.

 

[MVE]

If your TR is in the heel and you have to loosen the neck screws to tilt it back, a capo is great to hold your loosened strings on the neck and keep them from flopping around.

 

[Egg250]

Muscle memory, musical ability and theory all collided in a bad way, there were casualties, a major lawsuit/settlement (which I'm still not at liberty to discuss), and an agreement I'd never try that again.

I hope there is an expiration date on that settlement. I'd love to know that story!

 

[JimmyM]

NO! I've always viewed capos as a "cheater" for people who can't play songs in keys that don't have a lot of open string notes.

I'm sure there are legitimate uses for it, but I can play any note in any key without the help.

I take it you don’t play guitar?

 

[pbass2]

They can be super fun. I've used one on bass, not for "bass playing" but super way up high, in various tunings, also with the strings heavily muted for an almost tuned percussion type of sound when recording some experimental stuff. Pretty nifty effect. I do that with geetar too--capo it up silly high, use a mute and get this cool plonky percussive thing. Even more fun with delay.

 

[bassbrad]

I see no problem with using a capo and often use one on my lo B five string for lowered tunings. Also have one on my SUB Sting Ray until I change it to a preferred set, the bass is currently tuned in D standard for get the feel I like. It sounds like a monster in that tuning.

 

[MCF]

FIFY

View attachment 5279836

Weird with the pic flipped.

 

[bassrique]

The capo makes the pickup think it's closer to the neck.
For example, by putting a capo on the second fret of a J bass, and retuning to E, you get a close to 30" scale that can approximate what a single coil P bass with a J pickup would sound like (but the SCPB is not short scale).
Doing that with a P would be close to a Mustang (whose pickup is closer to the neck and which is short scale) with that P pickup.

I'm getting set to detune one bass to D and capo at E. Shouldn't be confusing.

 

[vcs700s]

Not for me.

 

[dusterdan70]

Anyone used a capo on electric bass?

If you've ever needed to check your truss rod neck action, you've needed a capo The Kyser Pro Am is what I use, and have setup hundreds of basses with it (4 stringers)

 

[Les Fret]

Yes I use it a lot on both 6 and 4 string bass. Great for solo bass stuff.

 

[Les Fret]

and here with slapping

 

[Hofnerbacker]

Anyone used a capo on electric bass?

Any thoughts? Suggestions?

Paul McCartney did it.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

That's so funny. I think the guy is trying to play it like an electric guitar. He seems to be trying to make a chord. And what's with the cigarette in the strumming hand? Obviously this guy is a hack who will never amount to much. A passing fad from the 60's.

Yeah, this guy could only dream of being as cool as Peter Noon or Davey Jones (both of them)